Ex-Virgin Group CFO named NEXT Non-Exec Director

NEXT has today announced that Amy Stirling will be joining the retailer as an independent Non-executive Director, effective 2 April 2024.

Stirling is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Hargreaves Lansdown plc, a financial services company and a constituent of the FTSE 250.

She has significant experience in financial and strategic leadership in client-facing businesses. What's more, she has considerable transformation and M&A experience at both executive and non-executive levels and is a qualified chartered accountant.

Before taking on her role at Hargreaves Lansdown plc, Stirling was the Chief Financial Officer of the Virgin Group. She was also previously a Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Pets at Home Group plc, Director at RIT Capital Partners plc, Chief Financial Officer of The Princes Trust and Chief Financial Officer at TalkTalk Telecom Group Plc.

Upon her appointment appointment, Amy Stirling will become a member of the Nomination, Audit and Remuneration Committees.

This news follows NEXT's Christmas trading update. The company had a better-than-expected festive trading period with sales up 5.7% in the nine weeks to 30 December 2023, exceeding the high street giant's guidance of a 2% jump for the period.

On the back of the strong performance and an expected robust performance in January the retailer has upped its full-year profit before tax guidance by £20m to £905m, up +4.0% versus last year.